I've just finished reading "League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions
and the Battle for Truth" (http://amzn.com/0770437540/) and watched
the PBS/Frontline episode
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of-denial/) which
was based on this book and which will air in encore presentation in
three days, on October 29th.
Varian Keller adopts the same technique that all obfuscators do.
S/He attempts to mix the effects of physical injury with that of
mental injury. It's an old technique, but it no longer holds sway
with the growing number of people who have begun to think critically
about football.
For decades, every professional, college, and high school player
knew well the risk of serious physical injury. Broken fingers,
broken and twisted ankles, knees shattered, ribs fractured, and
especially head, neck and spinal cord injuries that could render a
player unable to walk.
These were the risks that they willingly took on for the chance to
play the game, and the chance to make some money at the pro level.
What they didn't know about was the long-term physical injury to the
brain, and the long-term effects that such brain injury would have
on their ability to think, to reason, to act rationally.
They didn't know this because the NFL, its team doctors, and other
medical professionals whom the NFL co-opted (or browbeat into
silence) refused to seriously investigate this. Or if they
investigated it, their results were not made public, or the NFL did
not admit to the results of their investigation and waged a war
against them to prevent their conclusions from reaching its intended
audience.
That is what the League of Denial shows over and over again. The NFL
(and to a lesser extent, the NCAA for colleges) simply refused to
admit the possibility that severe long-term mental disease was the
most likely outcome of all of the hits (both concussive and sub-
concussive) their players gave and received on the field.
No one is saying that they didn't know that the sport was dangerous.
Not the fans, not the players, and not the NFL.
What we now are saying is that the danger that was kept hidden for
decades was the danger to the brain, and from that danger, the
suicidal depression, the forgetfulness, the violent rages, the self-
harm, and the harm to loved ones.
Even with this danger made known to players, as it is slowly doing
today, it is far more important that the danger be made known to
fans, and to parents of young players. (The League of Denial points
out that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is being diagnosed in
high-school freshman!)
The League of Denial quotes Joe Maroon, who was a neurologist and a
consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Joe said "If only 10 percent
of mothers in America begin to conceive of football as dangerous,
that is the end of football."
It is precisely this conception, that football is tremendously
mentally dangerous, targeted towards mothers and fathers, that
needed to be made known, and that thankfully is slowly beginning to
see the light of day.
So Varian Keller's comment about the bargain being only between the
NFL and its players is wrong.
The bargain is struck each year very early between the hundreds of
thousands of high school players, who then filter down to about
25,000-35,000 college players, who then filter down to about 2,000
NFL players. All of these players and their families are involved in
the bargain. And it is for all of these players and their families
to become fully aware of the full panoply of dangers involved in
playing the game of football--at any level..

jk m

10/27/13

A quote from Boston
Bruin GM, to those
that don't think
concussions should
be of a concern in
professional sports.
"On August 31, 2011,
it was announced
that Savard had been
shut down for the
2011-2012 season by
GM Peter
Chiarelli.[13]
Chiarelli was quoted
as saying "Based on
what I see, what I
hear, what I read,
and what I'm told,
it's very unlikely
Marc will play
again".[14] As of
the 2013-2014
season, Savard has
not played since his
concussion."
Head shots in any
sport should be
illegal and dealt
with appropriately.
As I write this
another Boston Bruin
(Erikison) went down
with a brutal head
shot by a Buffalo
Sabre thug, who
should not be in any
professional sport.
Like all workers,
pro sport players
should be entitled
to basic safety
measures when
pursuing their
chosen vocation..

TMACK pharmd

10/30/13

VK once again deftly displays a cynicism that really synchs with
others who would have gladiators continue their self-destructive
warring for the pleasure of the masses. Unfortunately the business
of sports underscores our society's misplaced priorities. The
brutality of American football and ultimate fighting (the seventh
sign of the apocalypse) illustrate the regression of culture in a
sick and graphic way. If we really want to end violence in our
schools, football should be first to go. Now, if you will excuse
me I have to go vote FOR a tax-increase that will improve schools
and increase teacher's salaries to cancel out someone of VK's ilk
who no doubt complains about teacher's unions burying our
educational system..

Danito

11/06/13

Lawrence Feld is completely off base. Most true hockey fans are
annoyed by the delay and interruption of the flow of the game that
fighting occasions. People came to see Bobby Orr or wayne Gretsky
for their SKILLS, not their fighting abilities. Perhaps LF should
learn a little more about this game of speed and grace before he
stereotypes those of us who love the game..

kim lawson cpht

11/17/13

Whether it be Formula 1 car racing or Mixed Martial Arts
or boxing- Even though the equipment continues to
improve,often it's too little too late. Those
participating in high school and college should be
restricted until the physician certifies eligibility. In
the NFL you are paid for the extra risk. That doesn't
excuse < competent equipment or "monetary incentives" to
deliberately and maliciously disable the key players..

M. McNamara MD

11/20/13

I knew about these injuries in the 1980s while at Yale. It's not
that hard to figure out, being mindful of anatomy and the limits of
diagnostic tests. The details were also well known to many trial
lawyers because such cases are often debated in a court of law.
The injures are real, they are untreatable, and most victims are
entirely unable to give informed consent for what they risk..

phaek bob

11/27/13

"Among the physical changes found in former players' brains have
been neurofibrillary tangles, threadlike neurites, and widespread
cerebral atrophy."
I wonder if anyone has considered that maybe these didn't happen
because they played sports - maybe they played sports because there
brains were damaged to begin with and they found something to do
that their brains could handle. I mean - grown men playing with
balls? That sounds like brain damage to me..

This survey is a poll of those who choose to participate and are, therefore, not valid statistical samples, but rather a snapshot of what your colleagues are thinking.

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